Protective helmet lining



July 31, 1962 W. W. COX ET AL PROTECTIVE HELMET LINING Filed June 24,1958 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS /V/M l1. CdA

July 3l, 1962 w. w. cox ET AL 3,046,559

PROTECTIVE HELMET LINING Filed June 24, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 3l,1962 w. w. cox ET A L 3,046,559

PROTECTIVE HELMET LINING Filed June 24, 195B 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 P1512 PlfJuly 31, 1962 w. w. cox ET AL PROTECTIVE HELMET LINING Filed June 24,195e 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,046,559 PROTECTIVE HELMETLINING Wilma W. Cox and Clara W. Cox, New York, NX., assignors to MineSafety Appliances Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Filed lune 24, 1958, Ser. No. 744,240 11 Claims. (Cl. 2 3)This invention relates to protective helmets or safety hats, and moreparticularly to means therein for supporting the helmet shell safely onheads of all sizes and shapes.

The well-known protective helmet or hat worn by industrial workers,miners and others, has a rigid shell in which there is a lining orsuspension that includes a cradle of straps that tits over the head withthe lower ends of' the straps connected to the lower part of the shelland their upper ends joined by a crown lace.y The purpose of thesuspension is to tit the helmet to the head and space the head from thecrown yof the helmet shell so that impacts against the crown will not betransmitted directly to the head. To accomplish this purpose in theusual suspension, the length of the crown lace, which connects the upperends of the cradle straps, is adjusted by the wearer so that the shellis disposed in the correct position on his head and a space is providedbetween his head and the top of the rigid shell. Men with small heads orheads with low crowns tie the crown lace in a small loop so that thehelmet and headband do not ride too low `on their heads, while men withlarge heads or heads with high crowns tie the lace in a large loop sothat the helmet and headband do not ride too high on their heads. Bythis adjustment of the crown lace, the distance between the wearers headand the top of the helmet shell is increased or decreased. It followsthat some wearers may loosen the lace to such an extent that their headswill substantial-ly touch the top of the shell, which is a dangerouscondition. Also, if a lace happens to break, the wearers head will touchthe shell.

lt is among the objects of this invention to provide a Y protectivehelmet in which the suspension always provides for a minimum safedistance between the wearers head and the inside `of the crown of thehelmet shell, regardless of the size or shape of the wearers head.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a protective helmet inwhich the suspension may be adjusted for comfort and safety to increasethe space between the wearers head and the top of the helmet shellwithout changing the minimum spacing provided by the manufacturer.

Alt is a further object to provide a protective helmet in which theheadband may be adjusted vertically Vin the helmet shell, eitherindependently or to compensatefor crown height adjustments.

In accordance with this invention, the inside of the rigid shell of ahelmet is provided with a suspension which is composed of a head cradleattached to a lower portion of the rigid shell, adjustable head-engagingmeans connected with the cradle, and a vertically adjustable headbandconnected with the cradle. The straps of the 'cradle have a fixed lengthso that a minimum safe distance between the top of the cradle and theinside of the crown of the rigid shell is always maintained. Comfort andcorrect positioning of the protective helmet while maintaining safetyare obtained by a wearer with a small FlG. 2 is a vertical section takenon the line II--II of Pro1; e

FIGS. 3, 4, Sand 6 are fragmentary bottom 'views of suspensionsillustrating four different modiiications of this invention;

` FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section of a further suspension;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan View taken on the line- Vlll-Vlll of FIG.7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a further modification;

FIGS. l0 and 11 are horizontal sections taken on th lines X--X and Xl-XLrespectively, of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a View similar ot FIG. y9 of another modication;`

FlG. 13 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line Xill-Xlll ofFIG. 12;

FiG. 14 is a fragmentary side Viewl of another embodiment of theinvention; V

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary plan View of the suspension shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary vertical section through other embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary bottom view of FIG; 16;

FlG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 17 of a further modif iication;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary plan View of still another embodiment; and

head by means of the adjustable head-engaging means, v

- ings; in which FIG. 1l is a bottom view of a protective helmetincluding our suspension;

FIG. 20 is a vertical section taken on the line XX-XX i of FlG. 19.

Referring to FIGS. l and 2 of the drawings, a rigid helmet shell 1 isformed in the usual manner from ,any suitable material and may take theform of a cap or a hat. Inside the shell there is a suspension, forsupporting the shell, composed of a head-receiving cradle v2 and aheadband 3. The cradle is formed from two or more iiexible webbingstraps '4 and 5 that cross each other at the top and have their lowerends ,located beside the lower Y portion of the shell. These lower endsof the` straps are riveted to the outer sides of rigid supportingmembers 6, which in turn are connected to the shell by rivets 7.

sit too low on the head. The helmet'therefore is provided with means foradjusting the can extend up into the shell.

IFor that purpose iiexible loops 8, formed lfrom webhing strips, aresecured to the cradle and extend inwardly across it toward one another.

loops and has its ends tied together in a knot. '.'By

tightening or loosening the lace, the loops will be pulled i closertogether or allowed to yspread lfarther apar-t. The closer the loops arepulled together, the less will be the l. distance that a head will beallowed to extend up into :the j I shell, :because the lace and loopswill rest onthe head.

If the loops or lacestretch rwhen a heavy blow is receivedy i f I Ibythe helmet, the cradle straps above the loops will limit the distancethat the shell can for forced down on the head and thus the *wearers'ears will be protected from the shell.y Furthermore, no rnatter how muchthe lace Y is loosened the wearer will not be able to reduce the minimumcrown clearance provided by the manufacturerr,

Another feature'of this invention is that the headband is connected tosupporting rnembers' in such a -way 4tha-t Y' e 3,046,559 Patented July.3l, 1962 distance that-'the head Preferably, the outer ends` of theloops are riveted or stitched to .the cradle straps about half way.between the top of the cradle and supporting-members 6. A lace 9 isthreaded through the it can be raised and lowered in the cradle. This isdesirable because when the lace 9 is adjusted to change the clearancebetween the top lof the head and the top of the shell, it may be -foundthat the headband does notencircle the head in the most comfortablelocation. In such cases the elevation of the headband in the shell canbe changed. This can be done by providing the supporting members Iwithseveral vertically spaced transverse slots 11. Rotatably anchored in theouter layer of the headband beside each supporting member is a `fastener12, which extends through the adjacent slot. The outer end of thefastener has a head in the form of a cross piece 13 that is narrowenough to slide through the slot. This cross piece normally is turned atan angle to the slot so that it will hold the fastener in it. The sideof the supporting member next to the shell is recessed to form a spacelfor a strap and the fastener head. When it is desired to change theelevation of the headband, the inner ends of the fasteners are turneduntil their cross pieces can be withdrawn from the slots. The headbandthen can Ibe raised or lowered and the fasteners inserted in slots at adifferent level. Of course, a circumferentially adjustable headband isused.

It will be seen that this helmet provides Ia fixed minimum clearance`between the top of the cradle and the top of the shell, but that thisclearance can be increased for heads of lower crown height. Also, theheadband can be adjusted vertically to the .best position for any givenwearer of the helmet.

The modified suspension shown in FIG. 3 can be the same as that justdescribed, except that in place of a lace for connecting the loopedadjusting strips 15, a disc 16 is used. This disc is provided with acircle or set of circumferentially spaced slots 17 extendingtransversely of the cradle straps 18. The loops extend through theseslots, so that the disc connects the inner ends of the loops together.In order to draw the loops closer together or to allow them to be spread`farther apart, the disc is provided with at least one additional circleof slots, two sets being shown. One set 19 -forms a circle smaller thanthe one first described, and the other set 20 forms a circle that islarger. Each set of slots is offset circumferentially from the othersets, and the slots are positioned to extend transversely of the cradlestraps when the disc is turned to locate those slots in operativeposition. The three sets of slots are connected by passages 21 so thatthe loops can be slid from one set of slots into another. This is donewhen the disc is turned. A head will extend farthest into the helmetshell when the loops are in the outer slots, and the least distance intothe shell Lwhen the loops are in the inner slots. The disc may be madeof leather or other strong flexible material that will fit comfortablyon top of the head.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 4, adjusting loops are formedby attaching the inner end of a flexible strip 23 to a cradle strap andthen doubling the strip on itself and extending it out along the strapand through a buckle 25 also attached to the strap. The inner ends ofthe loops are connected -by a lace or cord 26 that is not intended to beadjusted. Adjustments are made `for different crown heights byshortening or lengthening the strips 23 through the medium of thebuckles.

A simpler way of accomplishing what Vis done in FIG. 4 is to form theadjusting loops from individual laces that are threaded through holes inthe cradle straps 28 as shown in FIG. S, with the ends of each lace 29tied together. A cord 30 extend-s through the loops formed by the innerends of these laces. The loops can be lengthened or shortened by tyingtheir knots in different positions.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 6 is like that of FIG. l, except that thelace-like element that connects the inner ends of the adjusting loops 32does not have ends .that are tied together. Instead, it is formed 4froma pair of short exible cables 33, the ends of which are threaded andconnected by threaded sleeves 34. By turning these sleeves, the ends ofthe cables can be pulled closer together or spread farther apart to makea corresponding adjustment in the loops attached to the cradle straps35.

The form of invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 uses a differentprinciple-than that previously described. Instead of having adjustingloops, there are adjusting strips 36 that cross at their center and havetheir ends secured to the cradle straps 37. Each strip therefore extendsentirely across the cradle. The central portions of these strips extendup through narrow slots 38 near the edge of an adjusting member or disc39, so that the strips extend across the top of the disc. The edge ofthe disc beside the slot-s has integral ears or tabs 40 that project iback toward the center of the disc on top of it. The

inner ends of these tabs overlie the adjacent slots sufficiently topress tightly against the strips extending therethrough. They willtherefore resist sliding of the strips down through the slots. To titthis lining to a head with a low crown, the strip loops above the discare simply pulled upward through the slots to shorten the effectivedistance between the opposite ends of the strips.

A somewhat similar arrangement is shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, except thattwo discs and only one slot are used. In this case, an upper disc 42 isprovided with a central slot 43, up through which is looped the centralportion of an adjusting strip 44, the ends of which are attached to acradle strap (not shown). To maintain a loop of any desired length, alower disc 45 engages the lower sur-face of the strip. This discpreferably is provided with teeth 46 to increase the rfriction with thestrip. The two discs are connected together by a pair of pins 47extending from the lower disc up through holes in the upper disc atopposite edges of the strip. On each pin a coil spring 48 is compressedbetween the top of the upper disc and a kwasher 49 anchored on the upperend of the pin. The two discs therefore are resiliently clampedtogether, with strip 4S between them. The eifective length of theadjusting strip can be reduced by simply pulling its central loop`farther up through the upper disc, or be increased by manuallyspreading the discs sufficiently to permit the loop to be shortened. Apad 50 may be attached to the bottom of Ithe lower disc to rest on thehead.

Another double disc adjusting means is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, but inthis case the upper disc 52 is rotated relative to the lower one 53.Also, instead of a continuous adjusting strip extending across thecradle, two strips 54 are used, with only one end of each strip securedto a cradle strap. The inner end portions of the two strips are oifsetlaterally relative toeach other on opposite sides of the axis of theadjuster. Secured to the inner end of each strip is a small hook-likemember 55 that fits `between teeth 56, with which the upper surface ofthe lower disc is provided. The teeth at one side of the disc face inone direction and those at the other side face in the oppositedirection. A pivoted pin 57 is mounted in the lower disc and extends upthrough a hole in the center of the upper disc so that the latter can beturned. The two discs are pressed tightly toward each other by a coilspring 58 on the pivoted pin, compressed between the top of the upperdisc and a washer 59 on the upper end of the pin. The lower surface ofthe upper disc is provided with radial teeth 60 for gripping the uppersurfaces ofthe two strips. When it is desired to shorten the effectivelength of the adjusting strips, the upper disc is turned incounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 12. Its teeth will pull thestrips ahead, with their end hooks riding over the teeth on the lowerdisc. Friction between the discs and the strips will then prevent thediscs from turning lback relative to the strips. To lengthen the strips,the upper disc must be raised so that the inner ends of the strips canbe moved back across the lower disc.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 14 and l5, theadjusting means for crown clearance takes the form of a somewhatflexible plastic member that has a circular central portion 62 forresting on top of the head.

It also has radially extending arms 63 engaging the lower surface of acradle strap 64 at opposite sides of the top of the cradle. The outerends of these arms are provided with integral ears 65 that overlie theupper surface of lthe strap and pinch it tightly against the underlyingarms. To adjust this cradle for lower crown heights, the cradle strapbetween the ears is pulled upwardly with suicient force to slide itupward beneath the ears. This will lower the adjusting member in thecradle. Friction between the adjusting member and the strap issuiiicient to hold that member in the new position.

The adjusting loops shown again in FIGS. 16 and 17 are similar to theones shown in FIG. 4. That is, the inner end of a tlexible strip 6-7 issecured to a cradle strap 68 and then doubled upon itself and extendedoutwardly between the strap and a cross piece -69 stitched to it. Thelower end of the strip is fastened to the strap by a stud or snapfastener 7 0, there beingat least two such fasteners so that theeiective length of the loop can be changed. The inner ends of the loopsare connected by a tiexible disc-like member 71 provided with slots 72,through which vthe strips extend.

FIG. 18 illustrates the same type of adjustable loops as shown in FIG.5, formed from laces 74 tied into the cradle strap '75, However, theirinner ends are connected by a iiexible disc 76 provided with holes 77,through which the loops extend.

A nal form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. In this case acontinuous adjusting strip 80, the ends of which are secured to a cradlestrap (not shown), has a central loop that extends up through a centralhole 81 in an adjusting member 8.2. The top of this member is providedwith an integral collar 83 encircling the opening and having a pair ofshort integral tongues 84 projecting from its upper end in oppositedirections out along the strip. The loop of the strip has narrow bands85 extending across it and attached to it at their opposite ends. These`bands are spaced suitable distances apart. Any desired length of loopcan .be pulled up through the adjusting member and retained there byslipping a pair of the bands beneath the tongues to prevent the loopfrom being shortened.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explainedthe principle of our invention and have illust-rated and described whatwe now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, we desire tohave it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustratedand described.

We claim: g

l. The combination with a helmet shell, of a head cradle therein formedfrom straps having lower ends adjoining the lower part of the shell,supporting members overlying said lower ends and `engaging the shellmeans connecting the straps and supporting members and shell together,each member being provided with a plurality of vertically spacedhorizontal slots, a headband inside the cradle beside the supportingmembers, and rotatable fastening elements anchored in the headband andextending through some of said slots, the outer end of each elementhaving a cross piece extending above and below a slot to hold theelement therein, said elements being -rotatable to turn said crosspieces into line with the slots to permit them to be removed therefromand inserted `in other slots at a different elevation.

2. A helmet shell lining comprising straps radiating outward anddownward from a central point and having upper inner portions and lowerouter head-engaging portions, means connecting the upper portions of thestraps together to form a head cradle, means adapted to attach the lowerportions of the straps to the lower part of a helmet shell to space thetop of the cradle from the top of the shell, a headband positioned belowsaid head-engaging portions of the straps, means connecting the headbandwith the lower part of the cradle, and adjustable 6 means connected withsaid head-engaging portions of the' straps at points spaced above theheadband for pulling said portions together to reduce the interiorheight of the cradle, said adjustable means being in addition to saidfirst-mentioned connecting means. l

3. A helmet shell lining comprising straps radiating outward anddownward from a central p oint and having` upper inner portions andlower outer head-engaging por- Y tions, means connecting the 'upperportions of the straps together to form a head cradle, means adapted toattach the lower portions of the straps to the lower part of a helmetshell to space the top of the cradle from the top of the shell, aheadband positioned Ibelow said head-engaging portions of the straps,means connecting the headband with the lower part of the cradle, loopscarried by said head-engaging portions of the straps and spaced abovethe headband but below vsaid rst-mentioned connecting means, the loopsbeing spaced apart, and an adjustable connecting member extendingthrough the loops for pulling them closer together below the top of thecradle to vreduce the interior height of the cradle.

4. A helmet shell' lining comprising a head cradle adapted to t over thehead for support thereby, means for connecting the lower part of thecradle to a helmet shell in a .position to space the top of the cradlefrom the top of the shell, a headband, means for detachably locking theheadband to the cradle at dilerent distinct elevations in the cradle,and adjustable means connected with said cradle above the headband toreduce the usable height of the lining, said adjustable means beingsupplemental to the cradle. Y

5. A helmet shell lining comprising a head `cradle including straps,means adapted to connect them to a helmet shell, means for adjusting theheight of the cradle, separate supporting members secured to the lowerportions of the straps, a headband, and means for detachably connecttothe lower part of a helmet shell, iiexible loops attached to the upperportion of the cradle and extending inwardly toward one another alongthe underside lof the straps, an

adjustable connecting member extending through the loops for pullingthem closer together and creating slack in the upper portion of thecradle between the points'of` n attachment of the loops thereto, aheadband, and means for detachably fastening the headband to the cradlestraps at different distinct elevations in the cradle.

`7. A helmet shell lining comprising a iiexible head"` cradle having afixed maximum height Iand formed fromv straps having means to connectthemk to a helmet shell in a position to space the top of the cradle afixed minimum ydistance from the top of the shell when the cradle isfully expanded, separate supporting members overlying the lower endsofthe `straps and secured to the shell,

each supporting member being provided with a plurality Y of verticallyspaced horizontal slots, a headband inside the cradle beside thesupporting members, rotatable fastening elements anchored in theheadband and extending* through some of said slots, the outer end ofeach element having a cross piece extending above and below a slot tohold the element therein, said elements being rotatable to turn `saidcross pieces into line with the slots to permit them to be removedtherefrom and inserted in other slotsI at a different elevation, -and:adjustable means connected with said straps above the headband toreduce the usable height of the lining, said adjustable meansbeingfsupplemental to the cradle.

8. A helmet shell lining as recited in claim 3, in which saidfadjustableconnecting member is a disc provided with a set of circumferentiallyspaced slots receiving the loops to Yconnect them, the disc beingprovided with another* i. j set of similar slots spaced a differentdistance from the*rv g spese@ d center of the disc, and the two sets ofslots being con# nested by passages to permit said loops to betransferred from one set to the other when the disc is turned.

9. A helmet shell lining as recited in claim 2, in which said adjustablemeans include a eXible strip secured at its ends to said straps atopposite sides of said central point, and adjustment means mounted on aportion of said strip and provided with openings -through which thestrip frictionally extends to form a loop above said adjustment meansthat can be enlarged to lower the stn'p.

l0. A helmet shell lining as recited in claim 2, in which said adjustingmeans includes adjustable length flexible loops carried by saidhead-engaging portions of lthe straps and spaced above the headband butbelow said first-mentioned connecting means, the loops extendinginwardly toward one another and being spaced apart, and a connectingmember extending through the inner ends of the loops.

11. A helmet shell lining as recited in claim 2, in which said adjustingmeans is a head-engaging member below the top of the cradle and extendsin opposite directions below said central point, the opposite ends ofsaid member being provided with means engaging the upper surfaces ofsaid straps and clamping them against said member, said straps beingmanually slidable past said clamping means to lower said member vin thecradle.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSl,770,376 Bullard July 15, 1930 2,342,501 Strauss Feb. 22, 19442,359,387 Riddell Oct. 3, 1944 2,398,561 Ruggiero Apr. 16, 19462,735,099 Lewis Feb. 21, 1956 2,796,609 Fisher et a1 June 25, 1957FOREIGN PATENTS 192,630 Great Britain Feb. 8, 1923

